The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) has called off the threatened one-day strike that would have closed more than 350 second-level schools two days before the General Election.

The decision not to go ahead with the one-day stoppage, planned for Wednesday February 24, follows contact between the union and Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan.

The union is concerned about the high level of casualisation among newly qualified second-level teachers and ongoing impact of education cuts on services to students. Up to half of second-level teachers under the age of 35 are in part-time or temporary employment.

TUI president Gerry Quinn said that the union’s executive decided not to go ahead with the strike action in order to allow for engagement with the Department of Education in the hope of developing viable solutions to a range of crisis issues.

Ms O’Sullivan welcomed the union decision which she said was very welcome for parents and exam students in particular.